Member Builds and Stories
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Well with the year coming to an end, I figure it’s time to give an update on some things. I haven’t been super active on this thread this year but my 40 has been getting plenty of use.
I guess I’ll start with the end of last year. Went on a trip with a buddy of mine in his J**p. Got to pull him out twice so it was a great time.
Then on New Year’s Day 2025 I lost my balance while making a simple jump down from something at home and broke my leg. Not fun at all don’t recommend anyone try that lol. It got even worse though when just 2 weeks later we got the most snow I’ve ever seen in the south and I couldn’t drive in it. I was determined not to let go completely to waste though so I hobbled put to the 40 on crutches, sat sideways across the seat so my right leg was straight, put it in low, and drove around the yard just using the clutch. My parents had to help me climb in and out but we were able to make it work enough to get some great pictures.
Then in the spring I happened to find an M416 trailer on marketplace for what I felt like was a really good deal, so I went and picked it up. Not in perfect shape by any means but it was $400 so I felt alright about it. The floor will need to be replaced at some point and I’ll need to build a tailgate but it works for now. I went ahead and took the axle apart to look at the bearings and everything. They looked fairly good so I just repacked them and reassembled. Put on new tires and it’s been great!
The rest of the year has been pretty uneventful just driving and using.
My original plan this year was to do an ls/h55 swap. I had actually called and talked with Georg (
@orangefj45) about getting parts lined up, and as always he was extremely helpful. I was really excited about it, but breaking my leg at the beginning of the year delayed that.
Then in the spring right as I was getting over my leg, I found some property that had a half built 30x70 shop and small house on it so I bought that. The house needed a good bit of work so that’s been taking pretty much all my spare time and money since then. It’s mostly wrapped up though, so I can start on the really fun part. Building out the shop! Once that’s done the LS swap is still coming. Hopefully towards the end of 2026, but the original F just keeps running so I’m not in too much of a hurry.
I’m hoping to have complete more projects, take more trips, etc. in my 40 in 2026, so I’m going to try to be more active on this thread. As always a huge thank you to everyone here on mud who gives so freely of their time and knowledge to support everyone in this hobby!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Read back through your thread this AM. Great year, all accept for that broken leg bit. Don't know How Toyota missed this as a factory color. I remember when you 1st started uncovering it and I thought to myself how iconic it looked.
You’ve done well…
Read back through your thread this AM. Great year, all accept for that broken leg bit. Don't know How Toyota missed this as a factory color. I remember when you 1st started uncovering it and I thought to myself how iconic it looked.
You’ve done well…
Yeah the leg definitely messed up some plans but everything worked out in the end so can’t complain. Thank you I appreciate that! I definitely agree. I told myself originally that I wanted a factory color but I just love how how it looks so much that I could never change it.
